Functional Skills Level 2 for Podiatry: University Entry Requirements, Apprenticeships and the 13th January UCAS Deadline

Podiatrists are the health professionals who look after feet and lower legs. They diagnose problems, treat injuries, manage foot conditions such as those caused by diabetes and carry out minor surgery under local anaesthetic. It is a registered health profession, and the National Careers Service puts the starting salary at around £32,000 a year, rising to around £48,000 with experience, for a typical week of 37 to 40 hours.

If you want to start a podiatry degree in 2027, the clock is ticking. The UCAS deadline for most 2027 courses is 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027, about ten weeks from today. Podiatry course pages ask for English and maths at grade 4 (the old grade C) or an equivalent. If you do not have those grades, this guide explains which podiatry degrees and apprenticeships accept Functional Skills Level 2, which ones to check first, the extra funding podiatry students can claim, and how to get qualified in time to apply.

What does a podiatrist do?

The National Careers Service lists tasks such as:

• ✓ assessing patients’ feet and lower legs and diagnosing issues
• ✓ discussing treatment options with patients
• ✓ managing foot conditions, like those caused by diabetes
• ✓ treating foot and toe injuries
• ✓ doing minor surgery using scalpels, chemicals and local anaesthetics
• ✓ running clinics and screening children for foot and ankle problems
• ✓ working closely with GPs, physiotherapists and other health professionals

You could work at a GP practice, a health centre, an NHS or private hospital, or visit patients at home. To practise in the UK you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which means completing an HCPC approved podiatry qualification first.

Two main ways to become a podiatrist

A podiatry degree

Most podiatrists qualify through a three year full time BSc approved by the HCPC. The National Careers Service says you will usually need two or three A levels, or equivalent, including biology. Many adults and career changers apply with an Access to Higher Education Diploma instead, usually in science or health. Either way, universities also look for English and maths at Level 2, and that is where Functional Skills comes in.

A podiatry degree apprenticeship

The Podiatrist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship lets you qualify while you work, for example as a podiatry assistant in an NHS trust. You need an employer to take you on and support you. The National Careers Service says it usually takes four years and that you will need two to three A levels, or equivalent, preferably including biology. Some programmes run for three years, as you will see below.

Which podiatry degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Here is what current course pages say:

• ✓ University of Northampton, Podiatry BSc (Hons), September 2027 entry: asks for GCSE or equivalent in maths and English language at grade C/4 or above, and says Functional Skills, Key Skills or credits taken within an Access to Higher Education course are accepted. The course is three years full time. Typical offers include BBC at A level including a Level 3 science, or an Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Merit or above.
• ✓ University of Brighton, Podiatry BSc (Hons), 2027 entry: asks for a minimum of Level 2, GCSE or Functional Skills, in both maths and English language before you start the course. The typical offer is 96 to 120 UCAS points, or BBB to CCC at A level.
• ✓ University of East London, BSc (Hons) Podiatry, September 2027 entry: asks for GCSE English at grade 4/C or Level 2 Functional Skills in English, and GCSE maths at grade 4/C or Level 2 Functional Skills in maths. The standard offer is 112 UCAS points, and there is a four year route with a foundation year that has the same English and maths requirement.

Courses to check before you apply

Some course pages do not name Functional Skills, so ask before you rely on it:

• ✓ University of Huddersfield, Podiatry BSc (Hons), September 2027 entry: asks for GCSE English language or literature and maths at grade 4 or above, “or equivalent Ofqual regulated qualification”, but does not mention Functional Skills by name.

If a page is unclear, email the admissions team and ask: “Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths in place of GCSE for BSc Podiatry?” Our guide to whether universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 goes into more detail, and our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 English or a GCSE equivalency test explains how to choose when a course lists both.

Which podiatry apprenticeships accept Functional Skills Level 2?

If you already work in a podiatry clinic or an NHS trust, an apprenticeship means you earn while you study. One programme that names Functional Skills on its course page:

• ✓ Health Sciences University, BSc (Hons) Podiatry (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship), Bournemouth: asks for GCSE English and maths at A to C or 4 to 9, or equivalent, such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths. You must be employed for at least 30 hours a week in a role linked to the apprenticeship, with at least half of those hours worked in England. The programme takes three years, with blended learning and about two days a week of off the job study.

Employers advertise degree apprenticeships throughout the year and can set their own requirements on top of the university’s, so check the job advert as well as the course page.

Extra funding for podiatry students

In England, podiatry is one of the allied health courses covered by the NHS Learning Support Fund, run by the NHS Business Services Authority. Eligible students can receive a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, which does not need to be paid back, and Parental Support of £2,000 per academic year if they have parental responsibility for a child and meet the rules.

Podiatry is also one of the few courses that qualify for the Specialist Subject Payment of £1,000 per academic year, alongside radiography, orthoptics, prosthetics and orthotics, and mental health and learning disability nursing. Check the NHSBSA guidance for full eligibility. If you are comparing health careers, our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 for radiography covers another course on that list.

Why the Ofqual regulated part matters

Not every online “Level 2” certificate is a regulated qualification. When a university asks for an “equivalent Ofqual regulated qualification”, it means a qualification like Functional Skills Level 2, not a short course certificate.

At Functify Learning, your Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual, and we are a Highfield Approved Centre. Functify is part of Geek School Tutoring, which has taught more than 1,000 students since 2013.

How long does it take to get Functional Skills Level 2?

That depends on where you are starting from.

• ✓ You feel confident: book the exam. With Functify Learning your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.
• ✓ You are rusty: a 5 Day Revision Course from £19.99 gets you exam ready in about a week.
• ✓ You have been out of education for years or failed before: a live 10 Week Course from £197 per subject, in a small group of no more than 10 learners, with a mock exam included.

Not sure which group you are in? Take our free Functional Skills pass quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk. It tells you whether to book now or revise first.

Your ten week plan to the UCAS deadline

Here is a realistic timeline from Friday 6th November:

1. This week: shortlist three to five podiatry degrees or apprenticeships and note exactly what each asks for in English and maths. Take the free pass quiz.
2. By mid November: start a 5 Day Revision Course, or book a £35 mock exam per subject to find any gaps. If you already work as a podiatry assistant, ask your manager whether your trust supports apprentices.
3. Late November to early December: book your exam and sit it online from home, with technical setup support beforehand.
4. December: receive your certificate, finish your personal statement and add your qualification to your UCAS application.
5. By 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027: submit your UCAS application.

How much will it cost?

At Functify Learning:

• ✓ English Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ Maths Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ English and maths together: £250, instead of £320 booked separately
• ✓ Mock exam: £35 per subject
• ✓ Klarna available at checkout on orders of more than £35

For a full breakdown, read our guide to how much a Functional Skills Level 2 exam costs in 2026. If you are weighing up other health careers, see Functional Skills Level 2 for physiotherapy or Functional Skills Level 2 for operating department practitioners.

Functional Skills Level 2 for podiatry: frequently asked questions

Can I become a podiatrist with Functional Skills instead of GCSEs?

Often, yes, for English and maths. Northampton, Brighton and the University of East London all name Functional Skills Level 2 on their podiatry degree pages, and Health Sciences University names it for its podiatry apprenticeship. You will still need A levels, an Access course or another Level 3 qualification for a degree.

Do all podiatry degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Not every course page says so. Huddersfield, for example, asks for GCSEs “or equivalent Ofqual regulated qualification” without naming Functional Skills. Email admissions to check before you apply.

Can I do a podiatry degree apprenticeship with Functional Skills?

Yes, on some programmes. Health Sciences University accepts Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths. You also need an employer, and employers can set their own requirements.

How long does it take to qualify as a podiatrist?

A full time degree takes three years. The National Careers Service says a degree apprenticeship usually takes four years, although the Health Sciences University programme is listed as three years.

When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 podiatry courses?

UCAS says applications for most 2027 undergraduate courses should arrive by 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027.

Is there funding for podiatry students?

Yes. In England, eligible podiatry students can claim the NHS Learning Support Fund Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, the £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment, and £2,000 Parental Support if eligible.

Can I sit Functional Skills Level 2 online from home?

Yes. You sit the exam online from home, and we help you set up your laptop, camera and connection beforehand.

Get your Level 2 sorted before the UCAS deadline

Book your English or maths exam today, sit it from home around work or childcare, and have your certificate ready for your podiatry application. Not sure where to start? Message us on WhatsApp and we will point you in the right direction.